Shuster Tweet: TRO issued after midnight would get us through OSU game.
November 10th, 2023 at 9:35 PM ^
No reason to. Very possible B1G will argue it should be overturned because of bias, and they can, but that would be after the game
November 10th, 2023 at 9:27 PM ^
I don't know if that is true. I assume the court could set a different -- faster -- briefing schedule.
November 10th, 2023 at 9:30 PM ^
Judge Connors graduated from Michigan
Did law school at Wayne State
Currently lectures at UM law making $267K a year.
Is up for re-election in 2025.
This is clearly a person who has spent his whole life living in Michigan and has deep ties to the state of Michigan.
Oh sure, if Connors rules vs UM, or rules too late and Harbaugh cant coach the PSU game, Ohio State, or a few other B1G schools would happily pay him $400K a year to lecture that their law schools.
All the other aspects of Connors life could go down the tubes if he rules vs UM or doesnt rule fast enough. Connors knows all this of course. You dont become a district court judge if you're a dummy.
If Connors is truly sharp, as Shuster mentions above, then Connors releases a ruling in favor of UM just after midnight eastern time.
I will be shocked if Connors outright rules against UM. Waiting to rule after the PSU game would disappoint all of us, but waiting to rule would not shock me.
November 10th, 2023 at 10:24 PM ^
Michigan’s lawyers had this set up since Wednesday night. You don’t hire the best law firm in the country for nothing. They are playing a step ahead here.
November 10th, 2023 at 9:30 PM ^
Not to be Debbie Downer here, but (a) the OSU game is exactly 14 days after the PSU game, so I don’t know that the tweet is accurate; (b) no judge is going to set a hearing on a TRO for a Saturday anyway.
But it also doesn’t really matter. One of the outcomes of the hearing could be an injunction barring the Big Ten from proceeding with punishment until the case is heard. The time limit on the TRO is only due to the fact that it can be issued without informing the other party.
November 10th, 2023 at 9:34 PM ^
There is a Michigan Court Rule relating to the computation of time. When a period (e.g. the 14 days) ends on a weekend or a holiday, the period is extended to the following Monday. So if the court sets the hearing the full "14 days" out from tomorrow, that pushes it from the Saturday of the Ohio State game to the following Monday.
November 10th, 2023 at 10:15 PM ^
Thanks, obviously I didn’t realize that. But I would still expect a hearing to be set earlier if the judge has room in the calendar. Honestly, I don’t want anything from the judge that could be construed as favoritism in any way. Michigan should be able to win this case on its merits; and that includes getting an injunction until the case is decided.
November 10th, 2023 at 9:30 PM ^
So if the TRO is heard by Connors, would this not be a conflict of interest?
I can see how it would be construed that way.
November 10th, 2023 at 9:35 PM ^
It's a TRO. It's not even a hearing. It's the judicial equivalent of a 911 call.
If anyone has any issues with Connors getting assigned to it, maybe don't issue a suspension on a fucking Friday holiday afternoon.
November 10th, 2023 at 9:32 PM ^
Guys, this is fan fiction. Even if Connors is not recused - and he may or may not chose to (I don’t know the judicial canons like I do the RPCs) - he’s not going to be behind the scenes conspiring with the University to inflict maximum damage on the Big Ten.
November 10th, 2023 at 9:46 PM ^
What damage? Scheduling a hearing a day later?
November 10th, 2023 at 9:52 PM ^
He's ruling on a restraining order. Chill dude
November 10th, 2023 at 9:53 PM ^
I seriously doubt anyone at Michigan had to behind-the-scenes remind him of the rules regarding TRO hearings.
As for the rest, Petitti's decision is risible and its timing demonstrates extreme bad faith and oh, by the way, also happens to inconvenience the judge on his holiday. Judge doesn't need to be from Michigan to be inclined to book the late hearing date.
November 10th, 2023 at 10:11 PM ^
30 minutes.
November 10th, 2023 at 9:32 PM ^
Chess not checkers
November 10th, 2023 at 9:32 PM ^
Looks like a 930pm cup of coffee is in order.
November 10th, 2023 at 9:33 PM ^
Would be perfect backfire to petittis last minute stunt. What a web we weave…
November 10th, 2023 at 9:34 PM ^
Do you think there's any possibility at all that this was in fact a quiet, face-saving compromise worked out by Petiti with the school?
November 10th, 2023 at 9:40 PM ^
It seems that way to me. Especially after learning that a TRO granted after midnight will last us through the OSU game and render the restraining order meaningless.
Petitti can still show the other coward Big Ten schools that he went to bat for them and tried to get him suspended, knowing full well the TRO will be granted. And Michigan can use it to motivate the team and coaches further, while be the final straw before releasing the binder of dirt on all the other schools.
November 10th, 2023 at 9:41 PM ^
If your view is the B1G is in the wrong and the TRO works, you're going to point out how weak and dumb the new commish is
If your view is Michigan is in the wrong and the TRO works, they Blue Wall'd the courts and have the most impenetrable cheating machine known to mankind
November 10th, 2023 at 9:41 PM ^
After listening to the shit on the script they made Dave Revsine read on the air I don't think it was a quiet face-saving compromise.
They could have settled this quickly if they weren't out for Harbaugh. It was worthy of a five figure fine and a reprimand but nothing more.
November 10th, 2023 at 9:42 PM ^
Or if he is trying to show what a strong leader he is...like when you get a new boss they act like an ass to law down the law at first
MAybe cause is 1st issue he is going balls out ..but he picked the wrong way to accomplish
November 10th, 2023 at 9:43 PM ^
No. B10 wouldn’t have waited this long and there is no guarantee the courts rule in favor of UM.
November 10th, 2023 at 9:44 PM ^
YES! Thought this since the start! Petite can save face with the rest of the conference and not cripple Michigan.
November 10th, 2023 at 10:25 PM ^
I would be inclined to agree if Pettiti did not drop his decision late in the day on holiday.
November 10th, 2023 at 10:28 PM ^
I don’t believe that the guy that went off half-cocked and promised a bunch of B1G schools he was going to come down on Harbaugh without any evidence or even a general clue wtf he was doing could conceive such a plot to dig himself out of this. Sure, a platoon of lawyers likely would have fed him this “script”, but I think we’re giving this guy too much credit.
November 10th, 2023 at 9:37 PM ^
“If” the TRO is granted after midnight, that will potentially allow Coach Harbaugh to be on the sideline for Michigan’s remaining games, it’s like the B1G appeased the crying members of the conference by handing down a punishment but also aided the Wolverines by dragging their feet until the last minute.
November 10th, 2023 at 9:43 PM ^
Nah, Crybaby Day will remind Le Petit he still has those pics, and will have him file an appeal next week. The only thing that matters is the OSU game, they'll have their guns ready too. It sounds like the injunction hearing will be when things get really interesting.
November 10th, 2023 at 9:59 PM ^
No pics. But there is that business with the house....
November 11th, 2023 at 12:03 AM ^
Not familiar, what business is that?
November 10th, 2023 at 9:44 PM ^
This is all just temporary. Once the NCAA finishes its investigation, the Big 10 will hammer Harbaugh and there’s little we can do. Harbaugh will be suspended at some point; it’s just a matter of when and how long.
November 10th, 2023 at 9:38 PM ^
Thamel and Staples have the document (TRO request, not an order)
November 10th, 2023 at 9:40 PM ^
UNLV happens to be on against a game Wyoming on FS1 I believe at 10:45. Just in time for 12.
November 10th, 2023 at 9:42 PM ^
Strength of schedule watch
November 10th, 2023 at 9:40 PM ^
Interesting thought, let's say the trial goes through and the judge accepts the Big Ten punishment. That would be for the B1G title game and the playoff? Or the first three conference games next year?
November 10th, 2023 at 9:45 PM ^
A court case can take months or longer. I assume if the TRO is granted the enforcement of punishment will be stayed until the legal proceedings are concluded.
November 10th, 2023 at 9:51 PM ^
A preliminary injunction would be needed to stay the suspension through the trial. But it usually takes a few weeks to get a preliminary injunction. The purpose of the TRO is to preserve the status quo (i.e., stay the suspension) long enough for the court to properly hear and decide a motion for preliminary injunction. So if granted, the TRO would last up to 14 days, then the court would decide whether to convert it into a preliminary injunction or dissolve it. The preliminary injunction would continue through trial, and then the court would decide either to make it a permanent injunction (i.e., disallow the suspension altogether) or dismiss the case.
November 10th, 2023 at 10:32 PM ^
The 3 games are just for now. The Big Ten made clear that they could add to the suspension later. That’s why it’s all B.S. They can pretty much do what they want to Michigan. That’s why we are fighting.
November 10th, 2023 at 9:41 PM ^
So your saying that I can slow down on hammering the F5 button til after midnight???
Thanks
November 10th, 2023 at 9:41 PM ^
14 days is the maximum. Let's not get ahead of ourselves. The judge is going to do his job and rule according to the law, not according to his UM connections.
If the TRO is granted, the judge may set the return hearing whenever he wants. Period.
TP tried to game the system by issuing his BS decision late on Friday (a judicial holiday). Do not aspire to be like TP. Let the judge do his job.
November 10th, 2023 at 9:52 PM ^
... and TP's actions might piss off the judge to the point that he likes Mondays after Thanksgiving. Don't forget the holiday messing with hearing schedules.
November 10th, 2023 at 10:19 PM ^
Technically you are correct, but I have to believe that any Judge would be really really pissed off that someone was trying to game the system to file a ruling on HIS HOLIDAY (yay I know it is Verterns Day, but it is a vacation day for him regardless)...His time off, his downtime.
Now, he has to listen to both sides and provide a ruling.
Call me gullible, but I would be giving no favors to anyone that messed with my holidays. Stay within the rules yes, but in ZERO mood to grant any special circumstances....
November 10th, 2023 at 9:43 PM ^
Well, since it was filed after hours, the 2 weeks wouldn't start until Monday anyway, which puts us past the OSU game.
November 10th, 2023 at 9:43 PM ^
I just pray that no matter what happens Michigan takes a shit on the stoop of Ohios porch and lights it something like 55-7. We got to beat the livin piss out of them soft ass charmin colluding qweefs. Pete Thamel toe wipes his bussy after he pees.
November 10th, 2023 at 9:45 PM ^
It doesn't sound like this makes any sense, but even if it did, I don't see how Michigan benefits.
If I'm Harbaugh and we assume Connors has already made up his mind, I'd rather know what I'm allowed to do tomorrow before going to bed tonight than give two flying shits about what the courts are going to decide in two weeks. PSU isn't a pushover.
November 10th, 2023 at 9:45 PM ^
Unfortunately Shuster’s tweet is not really accurate. A TRO can remain in effect up to 14 days; the hearing (at which the court decides whether to dissolve the TRO or convert it into a preliminary injunction that stays in effect through trial) must happen within that deadline. So there is no real advantage to getting the TRO after midnight. Also, if issued the Big Ten would have the option of moving to dissolve the TRO, which they can do on as little as 24 hours’ notice under Michigan Court Rule 3.310.
Still, if M gets the TRO then it probably means the judge finds M’s legal arguments at least superficially persuasive. So that would put M in a great bargaining position to hopefully negotiate a satisfactory resolution.